How Ferguson's exit may have influenced EPL standings in 2013

Photo credit: Manchester United

When Sir Alex Ferguson left his post as Manchester United manager this past May there were two potential outcomes: Manchester United would remain in power or they would merely survive. Looks like the latter might have occurred.

David Moyes took over as manager from Ferguson during the summer but was unable to exact much change into the squad. Bringing Fellaini during the transfer period was the most likely impact player for the season. There was hope that the former Everton coach might be what Guardiola was for Barcelona, a new coach to lead a team into new heights. But it was not to be, at least not right away.

Right now the top four reading like this: Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton. This season has seen the resurgence of Arsenal, the rediscovery of Liverpool, the continuing presence of Manchester City and Mourinho's Chelsea remix. But was it really Özil's coming that lifted Arsene Wenger's Gunners and can we credit all of Liverpool's success to Luis Suarez? Certainly these are major factors, but they aren't enough to explain the current state of the league.

Once there was a legend at Old Trafford; you only needed to whisper his name. Ferguson was a constant force, a guardian of the best in English football. He was the best in the world, in reality, if we take into consideration his record. The ownership knew it and respected his decisions, the players remained in line despite their egos. Indeed, even if they crossed the boundary, personalities like Rooney and Ronaldo always relented in the end or parted ways. But the team remained on top.

For opposing squads Ferguson's presence was no different. He exuded only respect and always owned the sideline. He was the X-factor that so many times won a game for United. Not too long ago, when the team was riding high--as was often the case--they were close to losing a game to a smaller team. But enter Ferguson with the right tactic and change in personnel and at the 95th minute his team had tied the score. And let's not forget Manchester United's win over Bayern Munich in the Champions league final of 1999. At the death they pulled it off.

So maybe now this shroud has been lifted, so to speak, from English football. Smaller teams know they can beat Manchester United, the bigger teams aren't afraid of Old Trafford, and the players seem more concerned about their state in the league. It is up to Moyes to keep it together.

United is sitting in sixth place right now, outside of all European competition. This after being a constant in Europe for two decades now. Three losses at home halfway through the season won't do it and other teams are taking note. It suffices to say that perhaps this year Manchester United will be fighting for a spot in the top four and will need to stave off Everton, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle to reach the fourth place.

Will Moyes bring in real reinforcements? A player like Cristiano Ronaldo might do the trick but then again there is something else missing, a mystical quality. They are beatable, they can be weak, they struggle, they lack Sir Alex Ferguson. They say that rain forests gain terrain, sunlight and freedom when the biggest and oldest trees die. Can we say the same about the Premier League?

Frank Lampard: Legend and History

Photo credit: The Telegraph

As we watched the Aston Villa versus Chelsea match this Saturday morning many of us wondered about the future of players on this Chelsea team. With the certain exit of Rafa Benitez as coach and a possible return from the Special One, Jose Mourinho, it was clear that there would be a certain change in the team. This includes Frank Lampard, the cornerstone of this squad for the last twelve years.

Many of us have memories of his plays and goals, from fans to rivals, coaches and fellow players, one constant remained: absolute talent. His clutch goals always came at the right time and in the most remarkable manners. At the end of the game, the end of the first half, the middle of a certain loss. Lampard fought through his relegation to the bench as coaches like Ancelloti, Villas-Boas and Rafa Benitez came and went. He sat out from the national team while Steven Gerrard took his spot. In reality, they are similarly gifted individuals in the same position on the pitch.

Lampard had arguably his best years under Jose Mourinho and whispers about the great Portuguese's comeback make us feel that Lampard will stick around at Stamford Bridge. It is certain, however, that with his contract ending this summer and his unwillingness to sign a contract as of yet, that he might be on his way out. And where would he go? MLS, possibly to the Galaxy to take over David Beckham's old spot.

Whatever Lamps' future holds for him, he has cemented his place in English football lore. He became Chelsea Football Club's all time leading scorer with his brace today, and by doing so he also made sure the team will be in the Uefa Champions League next year. There he continued to build on his legacy and history continued to be written. A player and a legend. A gentleman and a star. Frank Lampard will always be a constant reminder of football's greatest position: the playmaker.

Drogba, Magical and Chelsea win the Champions League

Photo credit: The Sun

 

The heavens are blue. Chelsea blue. The English team's first ever win of the UEFA Champions League was achieved through defense, magical moments and the right players. This is how they beat Bayern Munich today. For Munich, their run to the final in their home stadium was written in the stars when they defeated Real Madrid via penalties at the Bernabeu. But today it wasn't their time, their game, or their title. 

The sheer drive of Chelsea, a team working as a unit, and their masterful striker, Didier Drogba, eventually painted the Munich night blue. This was after the home team had had the bulk of the possession and chances throughout the match. Indeed, Munich was favored worldwide to win it all today because of their record in the tournament, their rich history and the fact that they were to play in their home stadium.

It was Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez and company pushing harder and further up the field until the masterful header by Muller brought Bayern Munich closer to the cup in the 83rd minute. After that, Muller and Ribery were subbed off for tactical and injury reasons, and this proved fatal when Drogba scored a precise header past Neuer in the 88th.

Fate seemed to smile for Munich when a penalty was given to them when Drogba fouled Ribery in the penalty area. Robben would try to bring it home in the 95th of stoppage time as the thousands of Munich fans expectantly watched the Dutch maestro. Chelsea has another not-so-secret weapon: Petr Cech. The Czech goalkeeper is a penalty specialist and, full of confidence from the Barcelona match, he stood his ground and stopped a powerful but lazily placed shot by the Dutchman.

Extra time was a whirlwind of Munich attacks and trademark Chelsea defense. This is why Di Mateo's club was able to oust Barcelona from the cup. Sheer numbers in the back and tactical marking. It would go on to penalties and Petr Cech showed his worth once more, bringing a 1-3 deficit to a final of 4-3 by stopping Olic and Schweinsteiger.

It is fitting, perhaps, that an interim coach would win it for Chelsea. Abromovich always went for the flashy managers in Mourinho, Hiddink, and Ancelotti but they never got him the Champions League. The other time his club made the final happened when another interim coach, Avram Grant, was at the helm. Will Di Mateo stay? One can't argue with a Champions League trophy, even if the club ended in 6th place in the Premier League.

Often we are treated with true spectacles in the beautiful game and oftentimes the flashy fantasy will win over. Such was the case with Barcelona in recent Champions League finals and Spain at the 2010 World Cup. But more often than not, true teamwork and defensive poise helps a squad succeed and bring home a trophy. Sometimes poetry is written on the soccer field. Today Drogba and Cech were our poets.

The Special One returns with Madrid's triumph

Photo credit: Reuters

There are a few characters in life worth noting. In sports, in soccer for the purposes of this blog, this may take the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Valencia, Clint Dempsey or Zidane. However, this is only part of the equation. The other side is the coach and there are plenty of big personalities out there when it comes to this category: the cool and calculating Franz Beckenbauer, the fiery brilliant Sir Alex Ferguson, and the antithesis of modesty: Jose Mourinho, a.k.a "the special one."

Jose was never a great player and only participated in modest clubs in the Portuguesa Liga such as Belenenses and Comercio e Industria. He first started as a translator for Sir Bobby Robson with Sporting Clube, Porto and eventually Barcelona. His full coaching career began with Benfica and Lieira, where he found modest success, although the latter attained its highest ranking in the league in club history.

Mourinho's breakthrough came while coaching Porto, which he took new heights by winning the UEFA Champions League with a win over Monaco after eliminating Manchester United, Lyon, and Deportivo La Coruna. As a side note to American fans, the win versus Manchester United came thanks to a serious gaffe by Tim Howard. After Porto came a blockbuster move to Chelsea of the English Premier League in which he earned £5.2 million. Jose won the Premier League in 2005 and 2006, as well as the League Cup in 2005 and 2007 and the FA Cup in 2007.

After continuous disagreement with the Chelsea owner, Roman Abromovich, he resigned from his post as coach in 2007, having never won the Champions League. This would change, however, when he became coach of Inter Milan in 2008. He won the Italian Serie A that same season and also in 2010. Further, in 2010 his Inter achieved the treble by winning the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Champions League.

His move to Real Madrid in 2010 was reminiscent of his appointment at Chelsea: a big money club in need of a trophy. Indeed, Barcelona had been champions ever since Guardiola took over as coach in 2008, so re-taking the crown was a paramount objective for the Madrid club. Mourinho still finished second in his first season (2010-2011) but won the Cup that same year. However, he injected new talent into the squad with moves for Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, and Angel Di Maria. Thus, he effectively crowded out his midfield that already included Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka. However, this depth would become valuable in the future.

Also in his inaugural season with the club, a meeting with Barcelona in the semifinals of the Champions League resulted in some interesting Mourinho "moments." He was critical of the referee in the first round at the Bernabeu and was suspended for the second game at the Nou Camp. Always a competitor and always outspoken, he alleged that a "conspiracy" was behind his loss to the Catalan club.

Mourinho toned it down this past season. He quietly (relatively) and steadily gained ground in the league as Barca faltered time and again. He was outspoken still, yes, but he took a far more calm approach to his job. As Bayern Munich eliminated Real Madrid from the Champions League competition last week, we could see his maturation in his frustrated yet surprisingly calm reaction to his star players, Kaka and Ronaldo, missing their respective penalties. The Special One knew that he had taken the necessary next step in his career by winning the Spanish Primera outright. Earlier that week his team had won at the Nou Camp by the score of 2-1 over Barcelona, effectively ruling the Catalans out of the crown.

The Special One isn't done yet. He knows he must achieve his goal of bringing the Champions League crown back to Madrid. He certainly has the tools for the job but his approach must be more cautious in the defense than it was against Munich. Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, in particular, stretch the back line too far through their constant forays forward. This pulls the central defenders wide and exposes the middle of the pitch for the opposing squad. Pepe's recourse in that match was to concede a penalty.

Perhaps it will be in the defensive end that Mourinho finally strikes gold for Real Madrid. One or two more acquisitions or departures might achieve this goal. He has, after all, a potent attack that spreads talent into every blade of grass on the pitch. He's a special coach that doesn't shy away from substitutions in the middle of the first half. His theme isn't a "we must win," but instead chooses another phrase: "we cannot lose." As he once put it when he was hired at Chelsea: "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one."

Congratulations, Mr Mourinho. The soccer world wouldn't be the same without you.

And now for something funny:

Torres, golden and Chelsea defeat Barcelona

 Photo credit: AP

There are few matches that leaves a person saying "wow" over and over again. And yet that's how many of us felt today as Fernando Torres sidestepped Victor Valdez and gingerly guided the ball to the back of the net to tie the score Chelsea 2 - Barcelona 2. Having won the home match by 1-0, Chelsea sent the reigning champs packing and sealed their trip to the UEFA Champions League final.

Barcelona is the epitome of the beautiful game: tiki taka from Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, steady defense in Puyol and Pique, searing runs by Dani Alves. And yet even the best, most talented teams can be undone by true teamwork and total football. Today's version of total football came in the shape of total defense. Brian McBride put it well when he said that rarely does one see two forwards playing left and right backs. And Drogba, Kalou, and Torres performed this labor splendidly. Di Mateo held the team in line for a perfect defensive second half despite being a man down.

John Terry's character mistakes, and we won't put that lightly, nearly cost the team this game. It's not the first time his actions have pained the team and perhaps the "blues" were able to look past it and regroup on the field. True, if Ramires had not struck the first goal for Chelsea, we would be praising Messi and company, but it's the undeniable determination of the Chelsea defense and a scintillating performance by Petr Cech that brought it home for the London team.

This was a tale of two talented forwards: Messi and Torres. Messi has the privilege and the stigma of being the best player in the world. He thought his high, controlled penalty kick would beat Cech but the woodwork had other ideas. Same thing happened later in the match when a low shot from the Argentinean was negated by both Cech and the left post.

Then there is Fernando Torres. The 50 million pound attacker has seen lower goal production than most goalies get in recent times. But today he showed the composure necessary to ice the game and rise to fame once more. All is forgiven when a player scores a clinching goal like this. And he also played phenomenal defense when he had to, so we must argue that he showed his worth as a complete player today.

The most credit goes to Meireles, Ramires, Ianovic, Mikkel, Bosingwa, Cole, for sealing the 18 yard box with barbed wires and holding a perfect line. This is how the game was won, in the back with the most solid teamwork defense that club soccer has seen in recent years. This is how Italy won World Cups, how Greece won the Euro, how the United States got to the 2009 Confederations Cup final. Lead from the back, always, to ensure a game. A perfect ten in the second half for this defense of ten men on the pitch.

Points rescued: Arsenal vs Chelsea

Photo credit: AFP

Arsenal made headlines this morning when they defeated the 100%-at-home record Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The score, a resounding 5-3 victory, is a testament to this year's downright inconsistency in the Barclay's Premier League. So now, in the same season, we have Manchester City 6 - Manchester United 1, Manchester United 8 - Arsenal 2, and today's 5-3 score.

What has changed this season? Defense. In my view, the top clubs have focused increasingly on bolstering their attacking front and in so have forgotten about another key aspect of soccer. Box-to-box players are caught too far upfield to contain the opposing attackers. Two of Arsenal's goals came out of horrible blunders from the Chelsea defense. For Santos' goal, six or seven players were on the far side of the pitch, leaving Santos with plenty of space and just one defender to evade. Van Persie's game-winner occurred due to an ill-timed back pass from Malouda to Terry. Petr Cech is also to blame for at least three of the goals today. You have to guard your near post. It's goalkeeping 101.

Another aspect that came out of today's game is the reaffirmation of Robin Van Persie as a world-class striker. As Ian Darke put it, much is made of Ronaldo and Messi while players like the Ducthman go unnoticed until they score a hat trick. Arsene Wenger is finally getting this team to click. He still needs solidification in the defensive third but a place in the top four is within reach.

For Villas-Boas it is also a time to look at his defense. Terry needs more help and he isn't getting enough from Ivanovic. Would David Luiz make a difference? And where does one pick up defenders these days? Italy? Spain? Germany? South America? Do the lines need to be pushed back downfield? Are wingers spending too much time up front?

Whatever happens, for the rest of us it's just fun. If you're not a fan of the big four then you are enjoying the games for what they are. High kicking, high scoring, and no ties.

Size does matter: Big clubs win big in Champions League

Photo credit: Getty Images

Okay, let's see: Real Madrid 4 - Tottenham 0, Inter 2 - Shalke 5, Barcelona 5 - Shakhtar Donetsk 1, Chelsea 0 - Man. United 1. Aside from the curious result in Milan, it is fair to say that the dominant teams in Europe (a.k.a. the world) are set for another run at the UEFA Champions League. Further, a repeat of 2009's Manchester United versus Barcelona is not out of the question. So, big money plus player development always wins.

And that's the kicker, the difference, the point at which the remaining teams can be separated from one another. It is "cantera" versus "cartera," meaning "quarry" and "purse." To develop a team from the ground up or to buy the best players in the world. FC Barcelona prides to call itself the former and uses local talent (also the spine of the World Cup-winning national team) to build the skeleton of the squad: Xavi, Pique, Busquets, Iniesta, Puyol, Villa, Pedrito. Real Madrid opts for the latter: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ozil, Kaka, Adebayor, etc.

In Manchester United we have a mix of the two, with the more obvious piece being the legendary architect: Sir Alex Ferguson. No insult intended towards Ancelotti, he is a superb coach. But something has to be said for a coach that has held on to his post for 24 years. He chooses his homegrown players well (Wes Brown, Paul Scholes, and snatches up local talent (Rooney, Ferdinand, Carrick). He also picks up interesting, but extremely productive players: Berbatov, Hernandez, Valencia, Ji-Sung Park.

For Barcelona, the path to the semifinal is all but laid out. For Manchester United it is a bit more complex: they must still defeat Chelsea at home. However, after today's glaring errors by the London squad, you have to like the "Red Devils" chances. Real Madrid has made its case and Tottenham will be tested to their limit at White Hart Lane (no Peter Crouch). Shalke 04 has assured the rest of the world that this Inter Milan team isn't the same without "The Special One" Mourinho at the helm. This also leads to a preemptive conclusion that Manchester United will be at the final.

More fireworks next week--for sure. Be champions!

Invincibility cloak: Manchester United

Manchester United all but had this season in their pocket until two weeks ago. First was a loss to fierce rivals and nemesis Chelsea by the score of 2-1. It opened up the league a bit. Then, just yesterday, came a shock loss to long-time arch-rivals Liverpool--by 3-1. Has Sir Alex Ferguson's magic for the season run dry?

Hardly. And yet, we must wonder how it is that a team that had been so dominant in every game at every tournament all of the sudden started to break apart at the seams. A clear answer is its decimated defense. With Rio Ferdinand out, Vidic unavailable and O'Shea on the bench, Wes Brown and Chris Smalling were unable to contain Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez. The Reds were determined and the scoreline put it plainly: Manchester United is mortal.

Tell this to Marseille also. The French team is looking to take their 0-0 tie at home to Old Trafford with hopes and prayers that maybe Ferndinand and Vidic can be kept off the pitch. Perhaps it's too tall an order for Marseille. But maybe not so for Arsenal. The Gunners are 3 points behind the Red Devils with a game in hand. A meeting between the two in May could determine the winner of this Premier League season.

Still, no one should take United's recent stumbles as a sure sign of their demise. Clearly, at the beginning of the season it was Chelsea leading the table and poising themselves as the eventual champions. Nothing is ever for certain. Not even for the best of teams. Tell this to Barcelona. Possibly the best squad in the world, the "Blaugrana" tripped up in their visit to Anfield and fell to Arsenal by 1-2. They hadn't lost at all until a Copa del Rey tilt versus Real Betis on January 19.

It's clear that even the best teams are meant to lose games. It keeps things interesting, keeps the ball rolling, keeps ticket sales going and television ratings high. We love to see our teams invincible, but deep down, we always want to see the biggest teams lose once or twice. It gives hope to the weaker sides and helps to keep the superclubs grounded... if just for a day or two.

No Austerity: The 2011 Winter Transfer Market

There is no great recession. Not in sport. Not anymore. The Barclay's Premier League shelled out $345 million in order to revamp, reshape and restructure its major financial players: the big teams. It was Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea that ruled the direct deposit channels. Will this really change the way the game is played?

A few things are true: Fernando Torres ($79.5 million from Liverpool to Chelsea) was no longer happy with mid-table dwellers and Abromovich's Chelsea was ready to add oxygen to the fuel of its already-impressive attack (Anelka, Kalou, Drogba). Manchester City unhinged itself from under-used Adebayor only to snag Bosnian phenom Dzeko. We will hear that name more often now. But Liverpool didn't just lose one of the world's best strikers, they also made up for it with Newcastle's Andy Carroll and Ajax's Luis Suarez (yes, Mr. "hand of devil" versus Ghana). A better deal, given Torres' decline.

Real Madrid continued to splash the cash by snagging up Adebayor, but in the process they also lost their prize by falling far behind Barcelona for probably the final time this season. Mourinho, "the Special One" has some walls and isn't invincible.


Who's paying for all this? Abromovich is not the tycoon he once was and Chelsea reported a loss of 75 million pounds on this very day. Liverpool has a larger wallet now in the form of the New England Sports Ventures. A quick interview on Fox Soccer Channel showed just how serious the team was to John W. Henry. A toast to you.

Other "loan" moves included a few familiar names: Altidore (to Bursaspor of Turkey), Michael Bradley (to Aston Villa), Freddy Adu (Rizespor), Jermaine Jones (Blackburn Rovers). A loan implies part of the salary is paid by the lessee and the rest by the owner. In any case, a better chance for some of our compatriots. Other moves included Jefferson Montero (Villarreal to Levante) and Giovanni Dos Santos (Tottenham to Racing Santander). Read up on some other interesting deals here.

So, are we coming out of our austerity period? No, it's still the roaring 20s or surplus 90s.according to the soccer Gods. Is there a limit? MLS tries with its salary cap, but their "designated player" rule allows for 3 overpriced (a.k.a. Beckham) players in each team at their own discretion. This is, after all, a capitalist nation and a capitalist world, right? Sometimes it takes an idea, a special talent, to recognize that excess money doesn't always buy the best. Some teams sit still, sit quiet, spend gently and purposefully, and win championships.

Premier Revolution: Shaking up the EPL

Manchester United may be on top and Arsenal close behind, but there is no denying that this season is a sign of revolution in the world's top league. If Liverpool's fall from grace last season and their inability to rise from the mid-table isn't enough then this season we have Chelsea with one win in 9 games. Throw in Aston Villa in the drop zone and the inevitable rise of Manchester City and we have a brand new revolution.

Something similar happened in the German Bundesliga a couple of years ago when Wolfsburg won the league and Bayern Munich struggled to reach Champions League position. Italy, (except for Juventus' recent problems) France and Spain haven't changed much, although prior to Rijkaard and Ronaldinho's departure Villarreal was able to reach second place ahead of Barcelona. This is also commonplace elsewhere around the planet: Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, USA often see significant changes from season to season due to the more competitive nature of the leagues and where corruption can sometimes hinder a team's progress.

But back to the EPL... What's going on? Aside from the significant capital that Man City has to work with and their impressive coach (Mancini), it's hard to argue against the likes of Balotelli, Carlos Tevez, Adebayor as your attacking front. Tottenham Hotspur is another impressive squad that has shoved its way through by sheer grit and dedication from players and coaching staff. It is a more blue collar team, relatively speaking, than City, Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, but still boasts players like Van Der Vaart, Peter Crouch, Ledley King, William Gallas. Their skipping over Manchester City and Liverpool allowed them a place in this season's Champions League.

And what's going on with Chelsea? They are the reigning champs with Carlo Ancelotti as their coach and a mostly unchanged starting lineup... and maybe that's where the fault lies. Where Manchester United has rotated its squad and have given way to players like Javier Hernandez , Nani and Antonio Valencia, Chelsea still remains with Anelka, Drogba, Lampard, Cole, Terry, Malouda as their spine with seemingly little in the way of rotation.

But the current state of the league does not stop with the scrambling of the top four--it reverberates all the way to the bottom of the table. Previously dominant mid-to-top table teams like Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa have found themselves digging out of relegation week in and week out. Dempsey and Tim Howard won't always be around to rescue their teams. Other squads like West Ham, Wolverhampton and Wigan continue to give way to the recently-promoted squads.

So what is the diagnosis? Stagnation and bad management for teams like Chelsea and Liverpool. The ascent of quality clubs by way of sheer capital (Manchester City) or superb organization (Spurs). For the rest it is more about how the smaller teams have been able to close the gap and how previously-dominant mid-table squads have become stale and less inventive. Or is it just a matter of increased competitiveness and player talent? Either way, the spectacle is the ultimate winner. No longer do we have to wait for club competition to see a good match between teams like Blackpool and Chelsea. Now, in this season, the competition carries all the way to the core of the league. It's less boring, more dramatic and just plain fun.

Liverpool falls and rebuilds

There are few clubs in the world with the fandom and recognition that Liverpool has. One of England's "big four" (includes Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United). Winners of 18 domestic leagues, 7 FA and 7 League Cups, 5 European Champions Cup/League (most recent in 2005), Liverpool doesn't lack silverware. And yet, at the moment, they are on the verge of collapse both financially and in the sport.

That is, until the New England Sports Ventures stepped in to rescue them from the precipice. Yes, another American ownership venture into the English Premier League. But this time the new owners are going to pay off the club's debts and will rescue it from going into administration and having a 9 point deficit (Portsmouth underwent the same ordeal last season). So is the team safe yet? Perhaps.

A couple of points, however. Within the Premier League itself, Liverpool has not won, at all, from the league's founding in 1992. So how is it that they've won the Champions League? Perhaps because the Champions League isn't really for "champions" of the sport only, it's more like "champions" of prestige and marketing. But that's another story entirely, and one that Michel Platini knows all too well. Further, the team has been in rapid decline ever since Hicks and Gillette took over: from Rafa Benitez's indecisions to a non-top-four finish, to early relegation battle. A downward spiral indeed.

Liverpool is another team that suffers from the international player bug. That is, less than a third of its Premier League roster is of domestic origin. Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt headline a heavily-international attack. This is commonplace these days, however, but it is undoubtedly part of the reason overspending occurs. Argentinians and Brazilians come at a high price. So do Spaniards and the Dutch. There are certain models out there with more home brews: FC Barcelona. Pedro, Villa, Zavi, Iniesta, Valdez, Puyol, Busquets, Pique are all starters and are all from Spain. Oh, wait, that's also almost the World Cup Champions. Food for thought?

The New England Sports Ventures owns the Red Sox, and, after acquiring them in 2002, saw the team win the World Series. Perhaps they should take over the New England Revolution from the Kraft Group? A soccer-specific stadium and acquirement of a world class player would save the dwindling fan base (games average close to 12,000 in attendance this season).

In any case, this is a time to pay tribute to one of the great teams of world soccer. Liverpool FC, a timeless institution that was on the brink of collapse and riddled with disrepair. With off-pitch drama behind them, Roy Hodgson and company can concentrate on the January transfer window and plan their return to the world scene. It's not too late. Not yet.

Empire crumbling: Premier league out of Champions League

Today, Arjen Robben's clincher was more than just a thing of beauty. It also signifies a break from the domination of the English Premier League in Uefa's Champions League. Why is this so? Time for a change or a symptom of something more? Maybe a bit of both.

It is said that the top clubs reside in England and that this is where the top players earn their living... Really? I don't see Messi playing for Liverpool, Diego Milito lining up for Everton, Ribery starting for Chelsea, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring for Manchester United, David Villa scoring for Arsenal.

Is it too much competition within the EPL? You can argue for that. Spain is a two-horse race. Italy belongs to Inter, Bayern Munich still rules Germany, and Lyon, well, let's just say their place in football is nothing short of a monopoly in France.

You can make an argument for Rooney's injury and the loss of Ronaldo, even that Arsenal and Wenger would never get past Messi and the Justice League that is Barcelona. For whatever reason, it is now wide open. Four teams from four different countries... and none from England. Messi may have the upper hand, but The Special One and Milito + Sneijder, Robben-Ribery-Muller, Delgado-Toulalan may also have a say.

Should be fun to watch.

When Superclubs meet: Barcelona-Real Madrid and Arsenal-Chelsea

It is always such a treat to watch the most expensive, most coached, most watched, and most controversial teams play each other. Such was the case with the Barcelona - Real Madrid SuperClasico and the Arsenal-Chelsea London derby. Both games delivered and were worth the millions spent on the teams (not endorsing such exorbitant prices, by the way).

For Arsenal it was perhaps the lack of Van Persie and Adebayor, or just that Ancelotti clearly outmanaged Arsene "Voyeur" Wenger. Or maybe it's because Chelsea is just that good this year. When you realize that the same group of players have basically been marinating in their own collective talents (Lampard, Ballack, Drogba, Deco, Anelka, Terry, the Coles) you have to admit something special could come to fruition. The Drogba-Anelka tandem alone strikes fear into opponents, especially now that they are starting to gel. Drogba, needless to say, is pure magic, and both goals against Arsenal attest to this notion.

In the city of Barcelona, home of the soccer team bearing the city's name, a clash of titans occurred today. It was the "merengues" Real Madrid visiting Guardiola's champions. It was Raul - C. Ronaldo versus Ibrahimovic - Messi. It was Iniesta - Xavi versus Xabi Alonso - Kaka. It was a slow game at times with plenty of defense, but Ibrahimovic needed only one shot on goal. It is the Swede's positioning, opportunism, and clarity in finishing that makes he and this Barca team so dangerous to stellar defenders like Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos and Pepe. Perhaps Real Madrid would wow us with every move if it weren't such a makeshift team put together with a dream of winning everything, but instead coalesced established players around a quality nucleus at midfield (like Barcelona and Chelsea). But, who are we to dismiss any of these teams? They make us cheer, scratch our heads, and appreciate the king of all sports--soccer.

Early summer rumblings in Europe

Right before the next international FIFA date (starting Wednesday with Costa Rica - USA), we already have significant seismic rifts in Europe. Carlo Ancelotti, the 2 time Champions League winner with AC Milan, architect of David Beckham's move to the Italian club, has signed with Chelsea as their head coach. Becks may want to recheck his future after this.


Elsewhere in Europe we're hearing that Manuel Pellegrini has left his post as Villareal manager in Spain to coach none other than Real Madrid. This is an interesting move for a well-traveled and successful coach that won titles with River Plate, Liga De Quito, San Lorenzo, as well as 5 important years with the "Yellow Submarine." A void is now left for Jozy Altidore's current team, putting the young American's future at the club in question. How will the new manager use Jozy, if at all? Will he be loaned out to a Adelante team again, perhaps to a team in the EPL? We must remember that it was the Chilean's coach that brought him from MLS and who decided he needed more acclimatization to La Liga. His plan backfired when Xerez refused to play the skillful American.

It's not only Jozy that has an uncertain future. Freddy Adu is waiting to see what the new Benfica coach decides to do with him after an unsuccessful loan with Ligue 1 team Monaco. It's not all bad news, however. Standard Lieje's Oguchi Onyewu is a free agent after helping the Belgian club to two successive championships. Hammarby (Sweden) attacker and frequent US international Charlie Davies is being pursued by several as yet unnamed European teams. Beasley is another player that will most probably be moving this summer. He has had little input with Rangers and midfielder Maurice Edu has more than made up for it by becoming a dominant presence with the Glasgow club.

Who could be on their way out of MLS this summer? Maybe Donovan, depending on his participation at international tournaments. Kljestan is another toss-up, as is Bornstein. Kenny Cooper may be getting a few looks as well.

Let's keep dreaming for now. It's early. It's June 1st and qualifiers, Confederations Cup and Gold Cup are ahead.

Last Minute Man: Iniesta and his Barcelona magic

Improbable. Unrealistic. Not to be. Those were Tommy Smyth's words as time wound down for Barcelona in their crucial semifinal match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But champions should never be underestimated. Yes, there was no Puyol, Marquez and Henry and yes, they were down a man when they should not have been. Barca still played like they had eleven men on the pitch. Chelsea wasted their chances and when they thought it was all set and done, Iniesta throws a cold bucket of water on their dreams of reaching Rome in two weeks' time.

Last Saturday's 6-2 victory over bitter rivals Real Madrid was no fluke. Even though Essien, Alex and Terry gobbled up Messi's inventiveness and Xavi's incursions into the area, the true colors of this loaded team would show brighter than ever. The referee made 3 or 4 serious errors (hilariously enough, the man happens to be a psychologist too). These errors were quite costly for Chelsea since they could have been penalties. On the other hand, his dismissal of Abidal was completely unfounded since the Frenchman did not touch Drogba (Anelka?) and the Chelsea man took an impressive dive.

What's next? A depleted but resilient Barcelona against the all-around best team in the world--Manchester United. A tall order? Perhaps. Keep in mind that 3/4 of their starting defense will be missing due to suspension/injury: Marquez, Puyol and Abidal. For Man U, Fletcher will miss the match. Pep Guardiola is set to have a tough match against United but Sir Alex Ferguson's team tends to leave open spaces in the back. Messi and Henry thrive in those situations. In the end, this was the best possible final we could have asked for except maybe for the weakened Barca defense. Can't wait for the 27th!

Barcelona: A lesson in being number 1

Barcelona 6 - Real Madrid 2. No, it's not a typo. And yes, this line has echoed throughout Planet Football for the past 18 hours or so. And why not? Six goals from the best collection of players available. Yes, Chelsea prevented Barca from opening play and took down their offensive qualities. But the game against Real Madrid was different. The "merengues" needed a win to cut their points difference from Barcelona from 4 to 1. It was not to be.

Messi showed his quality once again and why Maradona refers to him as the only player to come close to his abilities during his prime in the 1980s. Henry showed why he's one of the world's most perfect strikers. There are no balls and no plays too difficult for him to turn into goals. If in doubt, just look at the 4th goal of the game. 10 yards or so away from the area, touches it slightly against an ill-advised advancement from Casillas and somehow his touch enters the goal.

And what about Real? Clearly not the team they were hoping to be. Robben, Sergio Ramos and Raul were insistent but their chances were outnumber by a factor of three by the "azulgrana." Robinho is sorely missed, as is (insert fake cough here) Beckham. A move for Cristiano Ronaldo next season? Either that or a move for a top playmaker and a couple of extra strikers would help as well.

Cheers, Barcelona. Stamford Bridge will be a harsh task. No Puyol and no Marquez will make things interesting. Barcelona is a better attacking team but Chelsea has order in the back line and great holding midfielders. Still, Manchester United versus Barcelona in Rome would be the ultimate clash of the titans.

Champions League: Lots of stars, too much defense

You hear it all the time. High kicking, low scoring and ties ties ties. Actually, that's a quote from the Simpsons making fun of soccer. But is it that far off? Not by looking at this past week's results it isn't. Barcelona, the wonder of soccer in the 2008-2009 European season with Messi, Iniesta, Henry, Eto'o, Puyol, Marquez, Hleb and company against Roman Abromovich's Chelsea of the EPL with their Ballacks, Lampards, Drogbas, Essiens and company. Awesome, right? Wrong. Chelsea applied the 1966 England defense and Barca could not get through with clarity. And the other semifinal match? Manchester United versus Arsenal? More of the same. Man U had nice chances early on in the match but the second half relegated them to a few long range shots from Ronaldo, Carrick and Giggs. And the only goal? Scored by a defender--John O'Shea.

Next week should seal the finalists that will meet in Rome on May 27th. Look for Pep Guardiola's team to try to light it up with a loose attack, leaving spaces open in the back line. Also, Puyol and Marquez are out for Barca and this will make their defense more interesting for the next match. No Arshavin (Zenit problem) and no Van Persie for Arsenal means Adebayor must pull off the upset once again at the Emirates. All in all, the stars that stood out for me were Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney for Man U and Essien and Petr Cech for Chelsea. You can make the case for Henry in Braca but the rest--including Messi and Eto'o--looked quite muted to me. Fabregas was also quite frustrated against Man U and someone else on that team needs to step up and provide better service for Adebayor and Eduardo. Vela should be considered as well.

So who will it be? It's looking like another Man U vs Chelsea all over again. Guus, take some notes.

United Rules

Manchester United wins. Surprised? Shouldn't be. Even though the game was essentially a toss-up and Chelsea controlled the second half and the overtime sometimes teams bound for greatness have lady luck on their side. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Man U, but I also wanted to see Chelsea win and witness the immediate future of Avram Grant as well as the look on Mourinho's face. Let's face it, however, Mourinho built this squad and Grant inherited it last year after squabbles between Abromovich and Mourinho hit a point of no return. We also have to give credit to a myriad players from all around the world: homegrown talent in Terry and Lampard, the wizardry of Ballack, Essien and Drogba, as well as Petr Cech's performance under the woodwork. This is a team flooded with stars that actually got the job done (nevermind the Real Madrids and Barcelonas). This brings me to another point: as I stated in a previous post, the EPL is the best league in the world right now. It doesn't matter how many star players are in teams like Real, Juve, Inter, PSV, etc, where a similar amount of stars in the EPL just seem to get the job done better. It could be said that some of the less important teams in England provide more competition for the big 4, or maybe the coaching or scouting is better. But then again world class players such as Ronaldinho didn't get their start in England, and neither did Cristiano Ronaldo or even the ex-Arsenal Thierry Henry. Whatever the reason may be, the EPL continues to set the pace for world football and continues to dominate the Champion's League, even if it does not win it.
But what about Man U? Cristiano Ronaldo. Enough said. The undisputed best player in the world at the moment. Who can deny his class and sublime touch of the ball? The likes of Rooney, Tevez, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson, Ferdinand and co. only add to this team's depth. Ronaldo's goal was nothing short of spectacular and brings to memory the Pele header in 1970 against Italy as well as Gary Lineker's strike versus Argentina in the quarterfinals of 1986.
So what's missing from the game? Well, for those of us out there that shun at the thought for watching MLS games when we can watch the great leagues of the world there's something else that would add to the game... why not have an American star in one of these teams? GK Tim Howard nearly made it so in 2004 but fell short of making it to the tournament's final. So who could be an American star in Man U or Chelsea? Let's look more closely at a potential, albeit short list:

• Clint Dempsey - not yet. He still has much to prove in Fulham. They nearly got relegated once again and his play later in the year had only a slight impact in the team's performance.
• Freddy Adu - great player but not enough experience just yet. Benfica's constant coach turnover may have hurt young Freddy's performance this past year. However, he has shown plenty of skill and will continue to do so during the summer Olympics.
• Jozy Altidore - maybe. Right now he could be relegated to the bench or reserves. He would fare better in a middle-of-the-table team (Everton, Aston Villa, Man City, etc)
• Landon Donovan - EPL is not for him. He would do better in Italy or Spain.
• Michael Bradley - maybe. He's still a toss-up. The kid showed plenty of composure and broke several records with the Dutch side Herenveen. It remains to be seen what he does in a more demanding league, however.
• Carlos Bocanegra - too much time on the bench this past season (with Fulham!).
• Maurice Edu - maybe. I like this kid. Needs a little work still but he has plenty of time.
• DaMarcus Beasley - yes. Out of all these players Beasley would be my first bet. He has shown composure in PSV and Rangers as well as the national team. Now that he's back from injury we could see him play more dominant roles in Glasgow's Rangers and why not a future in one of the top teams in the world?

All in all I think having an American star in a Champion's League final would finally bring the casual American soccer viewer to realize the true potential this country has to offer for the world's game.